The present invention relates to stilbene and quinine compounds related to combretastatin A-4 and their use as anticancer compounds and prodrugs. The compounds include those with an alkyl group on the double bond of cis- or trans-stilbenes, compounds with one or more (and preferably 2 or 3) alkyl group substituents on the stilbene A ring, compounds with an alkoxy group other than methoxy at position 3, 4, and/or 5 of the stilbene A ring, compounds (or prodrugs) in which BBOC amino acid esters are formed with the phenolic hydroxyl at the 3-position of the B ring and compounds (or prodrugs) based on a benzoquinone B ring. The present invention further relates to the photochemical reactions of stilbene compounds, either the above compounds disclosed for the first time herein or compounds based on prior stilbenes. These reactions include the photochemical release of an active form of the compound from a prodrug conjugate and the photochemical isomerization of the compounds, especially from a trans to cis form of compounds. The reactions can be used alone or in combination to convert inactive or comparatively less active forms of the compounds to more active forms, thereby allowing the compounds to be selectively targeted, e.g., activating them at the site of a tumor.